Archive for the ‘Weddings’ Category

To ensure a standout wine-paired meal, consider these five tips from Woodrow Hall:1. When it comes to general wine selection, know that there will always be some guests who are “red wine drinkers” and others who are “white wine drinkers.” It’s important to offer flexible varieties to appease both. A Pinot Noir is fruity, higher in acid, and has softer tannins (the astringent component in wine) than a full-bodied red, making it a versatile option that pairs beautifully with poultry, pasta, veggies, and seafood. A red blend is another crowd-pleaser and can usually convert die-hard white drinkers with its fruit-forward taste.2. California Sauvignon Blanc is a great choice for a versatile white wine. This style of Sauvignon Blanc can stand up to most food pairings: soft cheeses, salads, seafood, poultry, and pasta. It also has broad appeal covers both ends of the spectrum—the Chardonnay lovers will appreciate the ripe fruit notes and richness, while the red wine crowd will gravitate toward the bright acid and complexity.3. Surprise, Rosé is the most versatile of all! It has the acidity of white wine and the fruity character of red and pairs with most foods. Hence the reason it’s one of the fastest growing wine categories—more and more wine lovers are discovering the appeal of this approachable yet sophisticated and affordable choice.4. When pairing wines for a multi-course meal, it’s best to move through a progression, from lighter in body (Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc) to heavier (Chardonnay, Cabernet, red blend), so that you don’t overwhelm guests’ palates.
See More: How to Use Your Registry to Fill Your Own Personal Wine Cellar

5. When making selections, also consider the heaviness of the protein served. Dishes with lean meats should be paired with lighter wines. Alternatively, foods with a high fat content (like meats, cheese, and rich sauces) should be served with highly acidic whites (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay) or tannic red wines (Cabernet), since fats and tannins are a match made in heaven.6. And of course, if you’re doing a buffet style meal, why not channel the same serve-yourself approach and offer one versatile white and red that guests can self-pour? Just place a bottle of each on the table and let them do their thing. The interactive touch will be reminiscent of a restaurant experience, making your reception less big-banquet and more unique and memorable

Getting married on Valentine’s Day? You must be a true romantic. Have your Valentine’s Day Wedding reflect all the romance of your love story with special details. Even if you’re not getting married on Valentine’s Day, consider incorporating some of these touches for a truly inspiring day. Attire: On Valentine’s Day, an old-fashioned look is always romantic. You’ll want to wear a classic style dress and tuxedo. Look to old movies, including Funny Face and legendary weddings including Grace Kelly’s and Jakie O. A second option is to go for a white dress with red accents. Wear your hair pulled back with red roses pinned into your chignon. Wrap a vibrant red shawl around your arms, and carry an overflowing bouquet of more red roses. Have your bridesmaids wear the same dress in varying shades of pink and red, and have groomsmen wear red ties with different red and pink boutonnières. Setting: Make sure you book your location early, as Valentine’s Day is a very popular day to tie the knot. Wed someplace that will allow you to light lots of candles like Woodrow Hall to really set the mood for a late evening ceremony. Alternatively, look for a place warm enough in February. Decorate as you would for a romantic dinner- soft lighting, gauzy fabrics, flowers, candles, and plenty of atmosphere.

If you are wanting to do a signature drink make sure it matches you as a couple. Some are to worried about it matching their wedding colors and the drink may not taste so great! Make sure it taste good and is not loaded with dyes. Also make sure that drink can be made virgin too so everyone can try it. Don’t make the signature drink the only drink available (yes I have seen this done). You can just have beer, wine and your signature drink if you are not doing a full open bar or if you are doing a full open bar, have a few other fun cocktails. Here are plenty to think about:

Chiavari Chairs have long been known as the most popular choice of seating for special occasions such as weddings, and upscale events such as the Grammy Awards and even Dancing With The Stars! Chiavari chairs are so elegant and beautiful on its own but if you want to create something different try dressing up the chiavari chairs with satin ribbons, organza sashes or fresh flowers.

Give your room an open feel & highlights the table décor

When your guests walk into a room filled with chiavari chairs, it is a refreshing and dynamic utilization of space. Since chiavari chairs entail a non-enclosure design, your table cloth and décor can be highlighted with a refine balance that you and your guest can appreciate. Regular banquet chairs can cover the table setup and linens can sometime suffocate space and make the setup look cluttered, chiavari chairs simply opens the entire room up.

Ideal design for limitless creativity

If you’re a bride with an insatiable desire to decorate, chiavari chairs provides a perfect canvas. Decorate till your heart’s content! Add colorful sashes of satin or organza, loop it around vertically or horizontally, double the sashes for contrasting colors, use different color accents either with flowers or even jewelry, truly the skies the limit. Really there are no rules, you are the artist of your own event.

However, Chiavari Chairs are already perfect as they are – bare and beautiful. An ideal ingredient that doesn’t need enhancement or further accentuation. Brides don’t have to spend more on accessories when you’ve already said everything with the ideal wedding chair. With this essential component in place, now you can focus on the table, the dinnerware, and the centerpiece. Chiavari chairs provide the perfect foundation to elevate your décor to a totally new level.

Make this look complete your dream day with us at Woodrow Hall. Woodrow Hall’s Gold Chiavari Chairs beautifully accents the exposed brick, high ceilings, huge wooden beams, and large ballroom adorned with vintage lanterns. Schedule your tour with us today!! Contact 205.243.4243 or 205.200.6494. Email us at Tazmine@woodrowhall.com or vintageromance@woodrowhall.com.

Your reception tables are much more than just seating areas for your guests. The way you accessorize them will give your overall wedding that extra-special and unique look and feel. To really wow your guests, you’ll need to pay attention to every detail, from linens to the rental chairs.

Think of each of your tables as a blank canvas, but keep in mind that they shouldn’t all be identical in design- that’s boring!! Better yet, think of accessorizing your tables the way you accessorize your bridal attire. The elements described in this blog are comparable to accentuating your face with jewels, accenting your gown with belts and gloves, or adding feathers or sparkles to you hair!

*Tablecloth: Visually these linens comprise a large percentage of your reception room, so they add lots of color to the entire space. Using tablecloths adds another element of design to your wedding-it’s like wallpapering a room in your home. The first thing you should know when choosing your tablecloth linens is to get the right size cloth for your tables. The fabrics need to cover your tables completely; no table legs should be peeking out from the bottom!

To figure out the appropriate size tablecloth, take your table size and simply add 60 inches. For example: If you have a 72-inch round table (which seats from ten to twelve guests), you’ll need a 132-inch tablecloth. And if you have an 8-foot rectangular table (which seats eight to ten guests), the size of your tablecloth should be 108 inches by 156 inches. Something else to consider is the type of tablecloth you’ll need for each table. Here are the three basic types:

*Underlay Cloth: This is the first tablecloth linen that’s place over your tables. It provides the base color for your table décor, and complements the accent colors used for your party.

*Overlay Cloth: Often considered the prettier of the two main tablecloth types, the overlay is the linen that lies above the underlay cloth. It adds texture and emphasizes your wedding’s statement color or colors. Remember that the fabrics you choose can really make or break your wedding look.

If your budget doesn’t allow you to have both an underlay and overlay cloth, find out if the venue has full-length base cloths you can use, and then purchase your own inexpensive overlays to dress them up. Whether you use the venue’s tablecloths, rent them, or buy your own, just be sure they’re long enough to reach the floor.

*Table Runners: These are optional linens that can add an extra punch of color or texture to your tables. Running the full length of each table, these cloths cover only the middle section of each table.

*Napkins: Cloth napkins are as much a part of your wedding décor as your tablecloths and centerpieces. When selecting your napkin color, make sure it matches the shades of you underlay tablecloth (that is, if you’re using both underlay and overlay cloths). It’s also important to know how to fold napkins as well as which treatments are-and aren’t- appropriate, so that you can communicate what you want to your caterer.

The two basic napkin styles are the flat fold (the napkin is simply folded into a rectangular shape) and the napkin ring treatment (pulling fabric through a stylish napkin ring). For napkin etiquette, the first thing you should do when you’re seated at your table is to take your napkin, fold it in half, and set it on your lap. And be a dainty bride: Use the corners of the napkin to dab your mouth during dinner.

*Place Setting: Choosing specific utensils, glassware, and china for your guest is a great way to add personality and style to your wedding. The right place settings will also help tie together the overall theme design of the event.

*Charger Plate: Also known as a show plate, this decorative plate adds color, texture, and elegance to each place setting. It rests beneath the dinner plate and salad plate, and should not be removed from the table until the main entrée’ is cleared.

*Glassware: This consists of the wineglasses, champagne flutes, and water goblets at each table. If glassware rentals are in your budget, it’s nice to have fun with them by experimenting with different glass designs, colors, and accents.

*Flatware: Like all other place setting items, your serving utensils should also match your décor. Choose the metal-silver, gold, or bronze-that works best with your color scheme. You can also play with different handle styles and colors.

*China: This includes your dinner plates, appetizer plates, soup bowls, salad and bread plate, dessert plates, coffee cups and saucers. You can use the same pattern for all of your china-or add interest to your table by mixing and matching styles.

To keep the cost of your place settings down, consider using the venue’s glassware and china, and if they do not have your needed color,renting only charger plates and water goblets to add just enough pizzazz to the table.

*Chairs: Your wedding venue may already have seating options-perhaps plastic or wood folding chairs or upholstered chairs. If you’re lucky, these are in good shape and you might need to add only a bit of embellishment. However, if you choose to upgrade your chairs, then you’ll either need chair rentals or custom chairs-the most expensive option. Woodrow Hall has just added Chiavari Chairs, the standard in high end weddings made popular by Jackie Kennedy decades ago.

To enhance the look of existing chairs, you can use chair covers (a custom fabric that enrobes the entire chair), chair backs (a covering that slips over the entire back of the chair and leave the sear exposed), or chair caps (a fabric that covers only the top of the chair back).

Although it’s possible to over accessorize in fashion, you almost can’t over accessorize the tables-it just costs more to do so. When dressing up your tables, the very minimum you should have is full-length tablecloth and matching place settings, even if you have to opt for simple styles!!!

Please visit our website, www.woodrowhall.com, under catering to see the list of services we offer to accessorize your table that will fit within your budget!

Woodrow Hall would love to assist you with your wedding plans!

Call or text 205-243-4243 or 205-200-6494 or contact us by email at Tazmine@WoodrowHall.com or vintageromance@woodrowhall.com

You can also schedule a time to stop by at Woodrow Hall by visiting our scheduling tool on our website:

The Wedding Cake is a tradition going back centuries. Cutting the cake is also one of the highlights of the wedding reception. Choosing the cake is actually one of the more complicated decisions you will need to make during your wedding planning.

There are a number of misconceptions about a wedding cake. The biggest is that the wedding cake is for show, not for taste. Nothing could be further from the truth, but the fact remains that you probably have experienced a rather dry, freezer-tasting cake at a prior wedding.
This blog will attempt to simplify the cake-choosing ordeal so your cake becomes one of the fond memories of your perfect wedding!

The initial emotion most brides-to-be experience when looking for a cake is STICKER SHOCK! Cakes are expensive! A typical wedding cake costs between $500-$2000! This does not mean that you are going to have to pay that much, but many brides do. The number of slices and the complexity of the design and decorations heavily influence the cost of the cake. You can save a lot by having several smaller cakes or even cupcakes. You can also save a lot by avoiding the highly decorated cakes for something a little less complex.

The first step in planning for a cake is to find the baker. Ask around. There are numerous options ranging from a solo home based baker to grocery stores to even Walmart and Sams Club! Remember that some places actually use “frozen cakes” to start. Although this may save money, you may sacrifice taste. Ask around, check the Internet, talk to your venue manager and caterer. Talk to a wedding planner. All of these are good sources start with. Remember that all of the decisions regarding the cake are not essential to actually “book” the baker; you can make your choice of the baker prior to completing all of the other steps. Remember that the bakers that are in great demand may “book-up” a year in advance. Also note that a deposit is typically required so plan ahead.

The second step is to choose a design and components. Since the number of guests can influence the design, you will need to have at least an estimate of your guest count prior to this step. Since most cake decisions are occurring about 3 -6 months ahead of the wedding, most brides will have created a guest list for reference by the time you need this number.

Components vary as widely as the number of brides each year! You can choose the flavor of the actual cake, the types of fillings, the flavor of the icing and more! Take some time to consider each of these. Remember that each layer of the cake can offer a different choice so be prepared to explore your options.

Design: as unique as you! As you consider your cake, check out photos of cakes on Pinterest or other web sites. Choose a number and share the photos with your baker. The more communication you have with your baker, the more likely he or she will know exactly what you want. There are numerous basic styles ranging from “traditional” to whimsical. As you look at cakes, you will probably find a few that are very close to what your dream cake should be like. Remember that you can modify it to make it very personal.

Color: can be virtually any color. No rule says that you must have white icing! You can match your wedding colors or even choose a different color. Provide swatches of fabric or even paint chips from a paint store so you baker knows exactly what color you want.

Ask when the cake will be created. Cakes that are frozen for a few days will still taste fine, but the shorter the time between creation to plate the better!

Transporting your cake is a high-risk activity. We advise brides to have the baker deliver and set up the cake. We also suggest this happen late in the set-up process so workers setting up the band equipment, tables and chairs, lighting and other decorations do not attempt to move it. You can find lots of catastrophic stories about wedding cakes on the Internet!

Remember that the cake can include non-edible components such as ribbon or fabric.

Cake Toppers: Unless you have a vintage cake topper from a loved one, don’t top it with a cheesy plastic topper. It will detract from the art-work! Some couples use a topper that has meaning such as a special vase, piece of coral from a trip they took, a monogram, a seasonal item such as a snowflake or autumn leaves.

When should you cut the cake? Traditionally the cake cutting signifies the end of the wedding, but many couples choose to cut it at the end of the dinner so people who wish to leave before the party starts (think of the elderly) can enjoy it.

Plan for a complimentary color for the linen on the cake table.

Use a decorative cake stand to make your wedding cake really stand out. Woodrow Hall has several to choose from!

Woodrow Hall has purchased “pin lights” (compact flood lights that shine a rather focused beam) to shine on your cake to really highlight your masterpiece! Remember that when the room lights are dimmed, most colors look beige or grey! We offer these lights to specifically highlight your creation!

Remember that a Wedding Cake is a piece of art. It will probably vary somewhat from any sketches or photos or colors you are attempting to match.
Woodrow Hall would love to assist you with your wedding plans!

Call or text 205-243-4243 or 205-200-6494 or contact us by email at Tazmine@WoodrowHall.com or Tom@Woodrowhall.com

You can also schedule a time to stop by at Woodrow Hall by visiting our scheduling tool on our website:

A wedding cake is a work of art. And art can come in a variety of forms. Likewise, cake makers use a variety of terms to describe the ingredients and decorating techniques. This first blog on Wedding cakes will define the various terms so you can walk in informed and confident!

CAKE TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW!

Gumpaste: a mixture of cornstarch, gelatin and sugar used to create realistic appearing flowers and fruit

Cornelli: a decorating technique used to crate lace-like patterns

Pulled Sugar: boiled sugar mixture that is edible and can be pulled to create flowers and bows

Buttercream: a butter-based, creamy smooth icing that stays soft. Can be used to create piping, swags and decorative rosettes. This icing will not survive a hot summer outside wedding, as it will melt! But if your wedding is inside, this icing can be much less expensive and just as good-looking as fondant.

Fondant: an icing made from cornstarch, gelatin and sugar that is rolled out like pie-crust with a porcelain looking finish. It can be stretched over numerous shapes. This icing can handle heat like no other! One of the more expensive icings.

Ganache: Rich sweet chocolate icing or filling that is more dense than a mousse but less dense than fudge. This is a temperature sensitive icing that does not handle hot humid conditions

Torte: a cake with a thick texture that does not use leavening agents such as baking powder or soda

Marzipan Paste: A fondant like paste that can be rolled into sheets or molded into shapes. Made from ground almonds, sugar and egg whites. Beware the nuts if you are hosting to nut allergic guests

Pillars: wood or plastic structural elements to create a tiered cake

Royal icing: A paste like icing that dries to a hard and brittle final product. Made from egg whites and sugar. Used for latticework, beading, bows and flowers.

Whipped Cream: a soft whipped icing that goes well with fruit filled cakes but will not handle outside warm weather temperatures.

Woodrow Hall would love to assist you with your wedding plans!

Call or text 205-243-4243 or 205-200-6494 or contact us by email at Tazmine@WoodrowHall.com or vintageromance@woodrowhall.com

You can also schedule a time to stop by at Woodrow Hall by visiting our scheduling tool on our website:

The “food and beverage” element of your wedding is yet another way you can tell your wedding story. It’s true! You can infuse personality, style, and culture into the cuisine, in other words, really make your wedding a memorable experience for your guests, without a lot of extra work.

Incorporating your favorite foods is a way to personalize your wedding. Perhaps you have a passion for sweets; your reception can feature a fabulous gelato bar that will allow guests to add their own toppings. Your close friends and family will instantly recognize your well-thought-out touch of infused personality.

For the meal, a “family style” serving method maintains the formality of the occasion, but also opens the table up to lively conversation. This is especially true when there’s a fun, cultural element thrown in-whether that’s tasting Jamaican jerk chicken or authentic Italian bruschetta or something else that’s new and different. Food has always been a great ice-breaker. There’s a reason people congregate in the kitchen when you’re entertaining at home! People see family meals as a form of comfort, and that holds true for the food served at your wedding. But remember, serving family style does not equal sloppy. You should insist your caterer uses great dishes and serving pieces.

When it comes to catering your event, presentation matters! People really do “eat” with their eyes first, so each course should be visually exciting. The colors and textures of the food, from the first course to the dessert, should be an extension of your wedding décor. And that goes for drinks too. For cocktail hour, serve a signature cocktail (either passed or at the bar) that matches your wedding colors, and for that special touch, name it after something meaningful to you and your groom (the place where you met, your song, or something similar).

*Never have the first course preset at the reception it’ll spoil the surprise! Have the appetizer course revealed after your guests are seated. It’s always better to keep your guests guessing.

*Remember the thirty minute rule! Each course should be consumed and cleared within half an hour and that goes for family style meals too. A wedding reception is not a dinner party, so the food should be one element of the event, not the focus.

*Don’t balk at buffets. When done right, having buffet stations can add energy to your celebration, because guests will be up and mingling.

*Keep the menu light. You don’t need six courses, stick to the traditional three-course menu (appetizer, entrée, and dessert). Also avoid heavy foods and sauces, which will weigh guests down. It’s a party, you want them up and dancing, and having a fabulous time!

*Experiment with “duets” and “trios” to add a touch of novelty to the meal. Duets and trios give your guests the opportunity to sample different flavors and choices within the same appetizer, entrée, or dessert course. For example, a mac n cheese trip could feature three different preparations of this classic dish and a beef duo could match braised short ribs with petit filet mignon. However, duets and trios shouldn’t be offered with every course. That would be overkill!

*Literally cater to your guests! It’s great if you and your groom are “foodies,” but if the majority of your guests aren’t, then don’t get all fancy on them. You don’t want your guests to feel intimidated by the food, so keep your menu selections simple.

Finally brides, please do not consider cooking your own food or having a potluck wedding. Even if you have a limited budget, you do have other options.

Either ask your caterer to create a simple, less-expensive menu, or consider having a cocktail party reception. Cocktail parties are often more upbeat and celebratory than a dinner reception, so take advantage. Have “passed” food during the first hour, and then open up buffet stations, serving light fare, as the party progresses.

Don’t let the cost of food keep you from having the large wedding you’ve always wanted. It’s better to have a simpler menu and be able to invite all your closet friends and family members than to have a sit-down dinner reception and be forced to limit your guest list. Yes, you need to feed your guests, but having them there is what’s most important.

Woodrow Hall would love to assist you with your wedding plans.

Call or text 205-243-4243 or 205-200-6494 or contact us by email at Tazmine@WoodrowHall.com or vintageromance@woodrowhall.com

You can also schedule a time to stop by at Woodrow Hall by visiting our scheduling tool on our website:

Historic Woodrow Hall presented its 2nd Annual Bridal Photo Contest beginning April 1, 2012 and ending August 31, 2012. All Woodrow Hall brides from August 2011 to August 2012 were able to submit up to three of their favorite photos of their special day in our breathtaking, vintage facility. Brides emailed their submissions and all photos were posted in an album on the Woodrow Hall Facebook page for all their family and friends to vote. Voters had to “like” our Facebook page and “like” the photo of their choice in order for the vote to count. One lucky bride with the most votes was to win $100, and be featured on our website and Facebook page.

The votes have been tallied and our winner is, LAKECIA VINCENT.

Lakecia and Alvin Vincent became one on Saturday, November 5, 2011. Alvin states:

“My wife and I knew we picked the right venue, but were blown away on our wedding day on how beautiful Woodrow Hall turned out to be. We had plenty of space for our caterers to setup and room for our guests to dine and dance. The pictures of Woodrow Hall were great. We relive our special day every time we see them. The Woodrow Hall staff was very professional and gave us valuable tips on decorating and catering. No matter where we were married, we knew it was going to be special but Woodrow Hall exceeded our expectations”.

Please visit our website www.woodrowhall.com under the video/photo tab to see photos of our venue and past events. For more information on hosting your special day with us, please contact a Woodrow Hall representative.

Every bride should have at least one spectacular statement piece on her big day. Your veil can be your “statement piece”!

Here are some of the basic types:

*Cathedral: The most formal veil style, the Cathedral veil extends beyond floor length and is often worn with a gown that has a cathedral train.

*Chapel: A long, formal veil that reaches the floor and is usually worn with a gown with a sweep train.

*Waltz: Shorter than the chapel veil, this style falls somewhere between the knee and the ankle.

*Fingertip: A popular veil length that reaches the fingertips when your arms are down at your sides.

*Elbow-length: A veil that extends to the elbows, usually from 25 to 28 inches long.

*Flyaway: A less-formal, multilayered veil that only brushes the shoulders.

*Fountain: Also called a “waterfall” or “cascade” veil, this style gathers at the crown of the head and cascades over the shoulders. It’s typically no longer than elbow length.

Remember that veils are not worn by all brides, but if you choose a veil, there are numerous choices to make your day even more special to you and your guests!

Woodrow Hall would love to help you plan your wedding! With tall, beamed ceilings, exposed brick walls, great dance floor and plenty of vintage charm, this restored, century old ball room has just the look to show off your style and make your wedding dreams come true!

To learn more, call or text (205) 200-6494 or send us and email at vintageromance@woodrowhall.com.

You can also schedule a time to visit by visiting our scheduling tool on our website or pasting this URL into your web browser: http://www.genbook.com/bookings/slot/reservation/30175518